Bishop’s policy on cancelling worship in inclement weather

Dear clergy colleagues,

Please be mindful of weather conditions that can affect our regular worship schedules. If the State or your municipality declares a weather emergency which urges people to stay off the roads, or your municipality bans parking because of the cleanup efforts, you may cancel your worship for that day and inform your congregation accordingly.

While I share with you the reluctance to cancel worship for any reason, no one wants our clergy or parishioners putting themselves in any danger by driving on icy or snow-filled streets – or by hampering their community’s ability to respond to an emergency.

If you are able to walk to church to minister to those who can do likewise, please invite those who can walk to attend. You may want to discuss with your lay leadership how you will alert them if the decision to cancel services has been made.